Search

Search only in certain items:

I enjoyed Rebecca Reid’s compelling debut novel Perfect Liars.

Perfect Liars is a thoroughly satisfying character driven psychological thriller. It’s cleverly plotted and clear from the beginning, despite being paced on the slow side, that it is a compelling tale.

The characters are somewhat unlikeable in that they are typical stereotypical pretentious, entitled, self-centered women. The story is told using a dual timeline, past and present. Whilst they display a close friendship to the world it is deeply flawed.

There are certain parts of the storyline that I felt were a little too unbelievable and that is why this does not get a full five stars from me.
  
The Couple Next Door
The Couple Next Door
Shari Lapena | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.0 (75 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another major new talent to emerge in the last few years. The narrative begins with a dinner party, a couple leave their child to go next door, taking the baby monitor and checking in every half hour. Not enough to prevent a nightmare unravelling. This is a psychological thriller that pulls you into the worst possible situation and drags you through a multitude of twists and turns. The tag line, ‘People are capable of almost anything’ really doesn’t prepare you for the shocking revelations within the pages. It leads you to question how well you know those around you and how much stress it takes to push people to the edge.
  
The Last Mile (Amos Decker #2)
The Last Mile (Amos Decker #2)
David Baldacci | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a sequel to ‘Memory Man’ but I do think readers could pick up the background easily. The story follows an FBI task force investigator, Amos Decker, a man who can forget nothing due to an injury as an American Football player. Melvin Mars is a man on death row who needs to dig deep into his past to find out the truth behind his incarceration. It’s a very American thriller with some very staged dialogue, lots of guns and criminology but I really enjoyed the idea of a man blessed and cursed with perfect recall. A tale of twists and turns that kept me reading.
  
Before I Go to Sleep
Before I Go to Sleep
S.J. Watson | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
6
8.3 (24 Ratings)
Book Rating
This certainly wasn't the best thriller that I have read but on the other hand it wasn't the worst. Until about half way through I would describe this book as a page-turner but for me it unfortunately fell flat at the end. I understand that the focus of the book would cause a fair amount of repetition, however, there was so much it eventually lead to boredom. Although a good idea for a novel I felt it lacked certain thrills and didn't have a strong enough punch. I'm all for the idea, on the fence about it's execution and just plain disappointed about the outcome.
  
The Girl Who Played with Fire  (2009)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)
2009 |
7
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A very good second film in the trilogy. It doesn't quite reach the levels of the first, but that was an outstanding film. Where the first was a bit more dramatic in story along the lines of a whodunit? mystery, this is a bit more like an action/thriller with a conspiracy plot. Lisbeth has been set up as the main suspect in 3 murders and is on the run to prove her innocence. We find out a bit more back story to her character in this which is good to see. I can't wait to see the last one in this set of great thrillers!
  
40x40

Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated Rust Creek (2018) in Movies

Jan 10, 2019 (Updated Jan 10, 2019)  
Rust Creek (2018)
Rust Creek (2018)
2018 | Crime, Drama
Ok
Contains spoilers, click to show
This movie was just "ok" across the board-the acting, cinematography, story. Nothing flashy or anything about it. It played out well enough and kept me interested to the end. True crime fans will enjoy this low budget drama/thriller about a girl who gets caught up in some small town crime by getting lost on a bank country road. It was listed under horror, but there's really nothing "horror" about it. The main character is a pretty smart woman so her survival isn't exactly surprising. If you're looking for a decent movie to keep you occupied on a rainy day this one is worth a watch.
  
40x40

Dean (6927 KP) rated Body Heat (1981) in Movies

Dec 24, 2018  
Body Heat (1981)
Body Heat (1981)
1981 | Mystery
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Finally got round to watching this as heard it was a great thriller and Kathleen Turner's first film role. It looks very old and dated more like an early 70's film. It starts far too slow for me with not much happening for the first half of a long run time. Once the pace picked up towards the end and plot unraveled I did like it a lot more. It has some neat twists in it and I can see how this influenced the likes of the Wild Things thrillers just for one example. If you like thrillers it's worth sticking with for the 2nd half of the film.
  
A Perfect Getaway (2009)
A Perfect Getaway (2009)
2009 | Mystery, Thriller
I adore this movie and will watch it any time I happen to come across it. The Hawaiian setting is absolutely gorgeous, and the cast is terrific. Timothy Olyphant (who I will watch in anything), Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez (AMAZING here). Excellent performances from Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton as well ("You should have given us a ride, man.")

A great thriller with a fun, twisty plot. I definitely didn't figure out who the killers were in my first viewing. Subsequent viewings are even more fun once you know the ending, as you can pick out things you may have missed the first time around.
  
Show all 6 comments.
40x40

Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) Nov 8, 2019

He was so good in Deadwood, Justified, Hitman, Live Free or Die Hard, Scream 2, Dreamcatcher, The Crazies and Santa Clarita Diet just to name a few.

Others like gone in 60 seconds, once upon a time in hollywood, a man apart, the girl next door and Go!

40x40

MelanieTheresa (997 KP) Nov 8, 2019

@Matthew Krueger YES! All excellent. Santa Clarita Diet was such a smart, funny show, and he was great in it. Justified, too, plus Walton Goggins! They were amazing together. I haven't seen Once Upon a Time in Hollywood yet but I can't wait. Also, every time I see him I remember that he was in an episode of Sex and the City playing a 20-something guy with a tongue piercing who dates 30-something Carrie. 😏

40x40

MelanieTheresa (997 KP) rated a video of A Perfect Getaway (2009) in Movies

Nov 8, 2019 (Updated Nov 9, 2019)

I adore this movie and will watch it any time I happen to come across it. The Hawaiian setting is absolutely gorgeous, and the cast is terrific. Timothy Olyphant (who I will watch in anything), Steve Zahn, Milla Jovovich, Kiele Sanchez (AMAZING here). Excellent performances from Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton as well ("You should have given us a ride, man.")

A great thriller with a fun, twisty plot. I definitely didn't figure out who the killers were in my first viewing. Subsequent viewings are even more fun once you know the ending, as you can pick out things you may have missed the first time around.
  
Earthquake Bird (2019)
Earthquake Bird (2019)
2019 | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Stylish with no substance
Here is yet another disappointing Netflix original. I like Alicia Vikander but sadly even she can’t save this, despite speaking Japanese impressively well. The film looks good and it’s very stylish, with an atmospheric and quite haunting soundtrack. The problem is that the plot is rather dull and even the confused mind of Vikander’s character can’t make it any more interesting. It just comes across as your average thriller with a decent setting, sadly story wise it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. The ending is maybe slightly unpredictable but not entirely surprising either, and overall just a very uninspired film.